It’s a new day for Tami Roman. The days of her entertaining us on the hit VH1 show Basketball Wives (Miami) are long gone. And she’s now venturing into new territory. In addition to pursuing acting (she had a recurring role on season 1 of ‘Extant’ starring Halle Berry), dabbling in reality TV, and continuing other business ventures — she’s knee-deep in a new adventure, love.

In an exclusive interview with theJasmineBRAND.com, Tami introduces us to her new boyfriend (Reggie), whom she’s privately been dating for some time — who happens to be 17 years her junior. During part 1 of our interview, Tami shares why she’s extremely apprehensive (yet happy) in her new relationship; her biggest fear about her new love and how she hopes that her being transparent about their coupledom may help other women.

Watch the full interview and peep a few excerpts.

theJasmineBRAND.com: I snoop and dig on Instagram. I have been wondering about your relationship status. I see this man here and I saw a subliminal picture with him. Can you let me know who this gentleman is?

Tami Roman: This is my boo, baby boo Reggie. I’m very private about my relationships and I feel that to have a good relationship, there has to be no sign of it on Instagram.

theJasmineBRAND.com: Are ya’ll exclusive? I don’t feel like you’ve ever brought who you were dating in public.

Yes. Even when I was on Basketball Wives, I was in a five-year relationship. We kept it like, “You do your thing, I’ll be doing my thing.” That’s always worked. I’m taking a chance right now. Finally I’m like, let me be open and honest about what I’m doing in my life. I’ve always been a open book and so I’m opening this part.

theJasmineBRAND.com: Aren’t you a little scared to be in her world?

Reggie: I’m not a celebrity. I’m just a regular old dude from Houston. That’s it.

theJasmineBRAND.com: Is Houston the place to go? I have a lot of single readers.

Tami Roman: The pickings in Houston are very nice. Although, we deal with the huge age difference in our relationship. Seventeen years.

theJasmineBRAND.com: You’re not nervous about people recognizing her?

Reggie: I’m a secure person, I got my own stuff going on, she got her own stuff going on. We just meet in the middle.

theJasmineBRAND.com: Why are you comfortable for people enough to know (about this relationship)?

Tami Roman: I think I’m at a point now where I have to expose that part of myself. I’m constantly trying to figure out ways that Tami can use her ways in whatever. I know at this moment, there are alot of women that–for me the age difference was an issue and then it wasn’t an issue. I know alot of women out there who are going through that thing–older women, younger men. Now I am just trying to expose that part. If there are any parts from us exposing our relationship and deal with each other that can help them or make them feel more comfortable.

theJasmineBRAND.com: What is the biggest challenge with the age difference?

Tami Roman: When I go to the movies, I want to see “The Butler.” He wants to see “The Ninja Turtles.”

theJasmineBRAND.com: What do you two enjoy most about the relationship?

Reggie: For me personally, she’s just a real person. She’s a genuine person–it’s hard to meet a genuine female. She’s a real person–that’s what I love about her.

Tami Roman: He’s an admitted womanizer in the past because he just felt like all women wasn’t worth anything or out to get something. He was coming from that place and I was coming from the place that I can’t trust men based on my previous relationships. We’re both wounded but help each other by being together.

theJasmineBRAND.com: What do you do for a living?

Reggie: I own a trucking company in Houston. I own trucks, I buy trucks and hire drivers.

theJasmineBRAND.com: Do you want children?

Reggie: Yes.

Tami Roman: We’ve talked about it and had several discussions and it’s up in the air right now.

theJasmineBRAND.com: Would you be open to adopting?

Reggie: I don’t want to adopt. If it goes that way, I’d want a surrogate. I can understand–she wouldn’t want that stress on her body.

Let me first say, I hate the double standard and the stigma that women endure in these December-May relationships. With that disclaimer out the way—Tammy’s relationship is doomed from the start for several reasons. She is already feeling anxiety about the age gap, and insecure/jealous of younger women. Reggie said it’s a big issue in their relationship—this is clearly an “amber alert”!!! Next, the age gap is extreme in my humble opinion, almost two decades; she should’ve limit herself to no more than a 5 to 6 year age gap. Dating someone this young means you’re both at different stages in life; someone this young is still getting settle in their career, still getting to know himself. Younger men usually look at older, attractive women as a challenge to get, not a long-term mate. Men Reggie’s age are more connected to their peers, hint-hint, he was at Pappadeax with a buddy. This restaurant is somewhere you would take a date or celebrate something special or family events. Another big con is biology, even if I assume Tammy’s fallopian tubes, ovaries, and uterus are all in good working order, it’s still a big barrier to cross when you already have adult children, and starting all over again in a relationship you don’t feel stable in—-spells disaster to me. I’ll end this by saying good luck Tammy and Reggie.

love

I don’t this relationship is doomed for the start. EVERY woman would have these same thoughts when starting a relationship with a man that much younger.

Temia

I think this was a great interview, Jasmine was respectful with her questions and I love how the topics that were semi off limits she didn’t keep pressing and reword in the question. I like this guy for Tami and wish them all the best.
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